Drum Roll Please

(Sister Cummings)
And just like that the transfer is over... We received our transfer calls just before the general woman's conference. Imagine this, three sisters calmly eating their cold cut sandwiches suddenly turn into Black Friday-esk Mad women as the phone begins to ring. Well the result of this mad dash turned out to be that Sister Rowlings and I will be losing our little Sister Meldrum as she will be busing down to Ottawa come Wednesday. It will be really sad, after all our little band of the three nephites was quite fun and effective and now we must rediscover what it means to be in a duo again. However it may be nice in some cases because now our itty bitty apartment may be in some cases relieved and I will no longer be sleeping with my feet in the dreaming face of Sister Rowlings.

As Always miracles have happened this week. We are still meeting with Vanessa and she continues to astound us at every opportunity. Keep her in your prayers as usual.

I wished to share a little of what I have learned of Divine Nature and Potential. As we know we are all children of God. The people we walk with on the streets no matter their outlook chose to follow their older brother Jesus Christ in the pre-existence. Just like a Sheppard knows his sheep the Lord God knows all his children. In one of my first district meetings there was a discussion on charity and an Elder stated the following "How would He introduce them." Often when we are looking outward at those around us are we not prone to judge? Do we not compare ourselves to others?

When we look on our brethren do we see them as they actually are. As Children of God and our brothers and sisters, future Kings and Queens of a heavenly stewardship. Next time a judging thought comes into your mind think upon the words that this Elder shared. How would God introduce this person whom I have been so quick to judge.

I leave you with the words of Paul I love you and I pray for all of you.

"Let brotherly love continue" Heb 13:1

Our Redeemer Lives

(Elder Cummings)

It has been another amazing week!  The time has flown by.  We had a Zone Conference conducted by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the First Quorum of the Seventy on Tuesday.  That was really a treat.  He taught us about effective planning, effective teaching, and how to work with members of the Church better to move the work of the Lord forward.  He had a lot to teach us.

During the lunch we had at the meeting Elder Arnold received a phone call from Salt Lake City to inform him that Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had passed away.  Elder Arnold had a close relationship with Richard G. Scott and it was a tender moment to listen to him share the news with us.  I do not know any of the senior leaders in our Church personally, but from what I saw on Tuesday it is clear that their love for eachother and for the Lord is strong.  They are men called of God.  I can bear witness of that.  Following his announcement we listed to a soloist perform "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."  It was a very peaceful rendition and gave me time to think about what that means.  Do I know that my Redeemer lives?  I can say the words, but do I know what they mean?

As I have thought about that I have been taught many things by the Spirit.  If Christ lives then he is indeed the Great Jehovah, the Messiah, the immortal son of God.  If he lives then my faith is in a true and living God who has power over death.  If he lives then, as the song puts it "I shall conquer death" just as he has through his glorious Resurrection.  Through his Atonement and his Resurrection he prepared the way for us to return to live with God, clean and glorified in immortal bodies of flesh and bone.

That is something I have faith in.  To quote another hymn, I believe in Christ!  I "believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth" (Mosiah 4:9).  I know he is the only way for peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.  I know that the message of his gospel and his sacrifice will bless all mankind.

I have seen it bless those we have taught this week.  There was one family that came over from Laos just shy of a year ago.  They speak beautiful Hmong, much better than the broken noise I crank out.  We taught them the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We bore testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Over the course of a forty five minute visit they were changed by what we taught and are eager to learn more.

There is the man Txhooj Lwm, TV for short, who teaches himself the truth of the gospel when we visit.  We confirm his growing testimony with ours as he reads verses from the Book of Mormon and teaches us the doctrinal implication of the statements.  This man had no Christian background prior to meeting with the LDS missionaries.

God loves his children and blesses them.  He does not let them slip through His fingers.  We went to an appointment yesterday which ended up falling through.  As we turned to leave we were invited to join a birthday party by a sister who had been less active in the Church for several years.  God did not let her slip through his fingers and sent us, two unsuspecting young men, to go and find her.

God lives.  Christ lives.  They love us and desire to bless us.  They are reaching out in love again through living prophets.  All that they ask of us is that we have the faith and patience to listen.  I encourage you all to open your ears and hearts to the great things our Father and Brother seek to teach you.  I know the blessings are real.

And now it is on to another glorious sunny day in Fresno!

With love,

Elder A. Jared Cummings

Bruised Thumbs

(Anziano Wilkinson)

So in light of my companion's concussion, we have had to take it easy

this week by staying inside a lot more than usual. So naturally I have

had a lot of time to study! Part of my studies have centered on Jesus

the Christ, from which I continue to grow in understanding of who our

Savior is as a person.

One chapter in the book is centered entirely on Christ's boyhood and

growth. One thing that Tallmadge emphasizes in this chapter is that

Christ, just like everyone else, learned line upon line, precept upon

precept. Nothing was ever simply handed to Him on account of His

divine sonship; He was required to attain wisdom and knowledge in

exactly the same way we are, by hard work and patience.

With this in mind it occurred to me that, while He was entirely

sinless and spiritually perfect, Christ was not perfect at all things

temporal. That is, He was not by default that best at everything He

ever did. In mortality, He probably wasn't as good at swimming as

Michael Phelps, or as good at Basketball (had it existed) as Michael

Jordan. He probably couldn't beat a world champion Chess player at a

game of Chess and, who knows, He may not have even been a straight A

student had he attended Harvard Medical School (although He was

clearly a very smart individual). Christ probably wasn't a perfect

carpenter when He began learning the trade and He probably had His

fair share of splinters and bruised thumbs.

Christ was perfectly sinless, there is no dispute about that, but that

doesn't mean he was a superhuman from planet Krypton. For me, thinking

about Christ in this light makes Him a lot more relatable. I think too

often we lose sight of the fact that Christ experienced life in just

the same way we do and that He wasn't arbitrarily lead through life or

given whatever He wanted without needing to put in sincere effort on

His end. He stands shoulder to shoulder with us in being able to

attest that life is not an easy experience.

Anyway, that is a bit of what I have learned this week, maybe it's

false doctrine, maybe it's not haha. In the end the important part is

that Christ was sinless and that because of this He was able to take

upon Himself our sins and pay the cost for them that we might not have

to if we came unto Him. I know this is true and I am so happy to have

the chance to share this truth full time for the next two years!

Have a great week everyone and don't forget to invite a friend to

conference this week!

-Anziano Wilkinson

Out of Time

(Sister Cummings)

So due to our plans being quite full today and us using public computers with a time limit this email is not going to be as effective as I wish it could be. But I wanted to send something. Mosiah 4:9 is one of my most favorite scriptures. It is when the King Benjamin just before his death calls for all the people of the land to come together in prayer and Learning. A situation very similar to that of General Conference where we gather together, perhaps virtually, to learn and praise our God. In the climatic moment of his discourse, King Benjamin states the following.

 "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

I know and I can testify these things are true. This weekend is the start of general Conference. The Lord can help us understand the things that we need to understand through our leaders and our inspired prophet. I know these things are true in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen

The Sabbath of Our Lives

(Elder Cummings)

Before I get into what all has happened this week I just want to say that it dawned on me this week that I am already over a tenth done with my missionary service.  That went by fast.  Time does not wait for us to catch up.  Before I know it I will be heading home.  I have mixed feelings about that coming so soon.

That aside, it has been a fantastic week!  We have seen so many miracles this week as we have gone about doing the Lord's work.  They all have come from both obedience and listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  The other night we were filling up the car (an adventure we don't have in New Jersey) when I had the unmistakable prompting to go and give the man working the cash register a copy of the Book of Mormon.  My companion and I marched right in, handed him the book, bore a brief testimony of why we were giving it to him, and left to make it home by curfew.  Before we had even left the gas station he was already bent over, book open, reading.  I cannot say how his story will end, but I can say that God loves him and knows his needs.  On top of that, we have been able to invite four more people this week to be baptized.  That is four more of God's children who are coming to know their Savior better!  That is four more on the path to happiness and eternal life!

Sadly we did not have anyone come to church yesterday.  We had a half dozen people who had told us they would come, but none of them showed.  They missed out on a great primary program, by not-so-great translating abilities, but most importantly they missed out on the sacrament.  They missed the opportunity to remember the sacrifice of Christ in the Lord's appointed way.

God gave us the Sabbath for a reason.  He gave it with the command that we forget ourselves and do His will (Isaiah 58:13-14).  That opportunity is unique and allows us to come to know our God better.  True Sabbath observance will always bring peace of mind and a greater outpouring of the Holy Ghost.  The opportunity to be fully committed is rare.  It does not come unless we seek it.  It is requisite for our salvation (Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, 17:33, John 12:25).

It occurred to me last night as I read the Isaiah reference cited above that I have a real opportunity here as a missionary.  The full verses read:

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

As missionaries we have the chance to "turn away...from doing [our] pleasure" on this holy day of our lives.  The blessings are real.  The more we give ourselves up, the more we do the Lord's will, the more we love the work.  You can have a great time without fully consecrating yourself to this work, but the same blessings aren't realized.  When we commit ourselves fully to this work the Lord causes us to "ride upon the high places of the earth," and we are blessed in each of our own missions, in every area we serve, in our own promised lands.  The blessings of the covenants missionaries make are realized. 

This opportunity is unique and may never come again.  This is a time when I can turn my life fully over to God.  This is the Sabbath of my life, and I am loving it!

-Elder Jared Cummings

Commozione Cerebrale

(Anziano Wilkinson)

This week has really been an interesting one. You know what they say,

it's all fun a and games until someone gets hurt! We believe my

companion has a minor concussion (hence the title of this blog post)

from playing a little too much soccer a few days ago. As a result, we

are confined to very few options for the next few days while he

recovers, Sorella Dibb's orders. I'm perfectly fine though, so don't

worry about me!

We met some really cool people this week on the streets, on the

trains, and just about anywhere else you can think. It's kinda fun to

just go and talk to people that you've never met before, especially

for me now that I can mostly understand them with a bit of effort!

However, I still say some pretty goofy things like when I mispronounce

the word for "suffered" and say something to the effect of "Christ was

deep-fried for our sins". Fun stuff!

We tend to have the best conversations with people at the oddest

moments, like when we go to snag some pizza (it's super cheap and

super tasty here, it's amazing) before heading back to the apartment

at night! In that specific instance we ran into a Sri Lankan couple

who was vacationing in Italy for their 48th anniversary and they were

very interested in our message about Christ. They spoke English too!

It's always neat to run into people who are prepared to receive our

message, even if they are tourists!

I've learned a lot about talking to strangers about the gospel just in

the past few days, in particular I realized that you can look all day

and you will never find a perfect moment to talk to someone. Something

will always make every situation sub-optimal, like a car horn going

off or a dog barking. When it comes to perfect moments, they are

nowhere to be found, perfect moments can only be made. And the only

way to make perfect moments is to just jump in and trust in Heavenly

Father! And that's the case for talking with anyone about the gospel!

If you take the leap of faith, the moment will be made perfect for

you, because Heavenly Father really, really wants that person that

you're talking to to hear the gospel and get the chance to receive it!

He loves them and he will make due with whatever nonsensical sentences

come out of your mouth. Trust me, I am well acquainted with

nonsensical sentences!

So I challenge you all to go and talk to someone about the gospel! The

best part is you don't even need to worry about what to say; the words

will be given to you through the Holy Ghost as you take the leap of

faith! So go try it, because there is great joy in doing so, in being

an instrument in the hands of the Lord!

Have a great week everyone!

-Anziano Wilkinson

Welcome to Fresno!

(Elder Cummings)

I am here!  I made it!  Nine short weeks at the MTC and now it has happened.  I have been pleasantly surprised with how much Hmong I actually know and understand.  I was all ready to translate in Sacrament Meeting this week, but with the forest fires in the area raining ash down on us I've developed a cough that wasn't going to make the job easy.  Speaking of rain, it is raining today!  My trainer, Elder Ballard, said this is the eighth time in almost two years that he can remember.  That hopefully will help these fires calm down a bit.

The same day the new missionaries arrive they go out and begin teaching.  Such was the case with me and the seventeen other missionaries who arrived with me.  We went out with our temporary companions (we got our actual companions the next day) and began teaching.  My companion for the day took me to an area where we were sure to meet Hmong people, and we did!  We talked to many Hmong that day.  There was even a lesson we taught where I understood everything that was going on and was able to participate.  Then there was another lesson we taught in Hmong where I didn't catch a word.  The accent of the speaker matters a lot.

The entire experience reminds me of a verse, 1 Corinthians 2:1, in which Paul, the evangelist known well for his bold approach to missionary work, describes himself teaching.  He writes, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God."  I definitely connect with that.  I feel pretty good about my language skills, especially for only having been studying for ten weeks, but my Hmong definitely is not "excellency of speech."  My sentence, although they are spoken in Hmong, are still most definitely of English structure and style.  I can be understood, but just barely.  I do not understand Hmong proverbs.  I definitely have not come to Fresno with much "wisdom" as it pertains to the Hmong culture.  In spite of all of this I have come declaring unto the Hmong people the testimony of God, and I am "determined not to know any thing among [them], save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). 

It is amazing to me what faith can do.  Faith in Jesus Christ motivates upwards of 80,000 young men and women all over the world to give up two years or eighteen months of their lives to serve their fellowmen preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That is incredible to me.  That sacrifice brings with it an undeniable power.

Faith is a real power.  Sacrifice brings real blessings.  There is so much more I could say on the topic, but my email time for the week is running short so I need to wrap it up.  I know that my Redeemer lives.  I believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He did give his life to atone for the sins of all mankind.  "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities...and with his stripes we are healed" (Mosiah 14:5).  I truly do believe that with all my heart.  There is a way for peace in this life and in the life to come.  That way is Christ's way.

I hope you all have a great week!  If any of you want to send me a letter via the US Postal system, my address has now changed to 1814 N. Echo Ave. Fresno, California, USA 93704.  Thank you to all of you who sent me mail while I was at the MTC and thank you all for the emails you send me!  Both are highlights of my week, every week.

With love,

Elder A. Jared Cummings

White Castles #Nottheburgerplace

(Sister Cummings)

Hello everyone!! Yet again we are doing our emails on a Tuesday due to our having a zone conference yesterday. As the conference was in Montreal we had chosen to take the metro into the city to save up on kilometres. It was quite a moment when I realized about exactly a year ago this was the only mode of transport that I had had. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have a car now but sometimes in our cars we forget how big the world is. Particularly Montreal. We felt the spirit so strongly as we talked about the Sabbath.

It was an important moment in the training where we discussed the importance of a vision, and how having a vision helps us to fix goals. Such as when we understand the importance of the sacrament we come to realize the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

I would love to explain more of I learned but I sadly do not have time to give all the details, but I would love to share the application of this concept.

This week one of our investigators attended church for the first time. Vanessa is what most missionaries call golden, but what we in Laval like to call Soifers. Soif in French means thirsty and when studying how there are those thirsting after righteousness and truth this frangle phone word was formed. She has been studying religions for seven years with all branches of religion. Branching from Muslim even to Jehovahs Witness. Our lessons with her have been really edifying and miraculous and when she was finally able to attend church we were so excited. As was she.

After an amazing sacrament meeting and gospel principles class we took a few minutes before the third hour of church to prepare her for the combined meeting discussing the soon to be rededicated Montreal Temple. We gave her a crash course on temples and showed a picture of a couple. When she saw them she immediately described everyone of them as a white castle where princes and princesses lived. When we told her that marriages were taken place there her eyes lit up. The meeting gave an even better lesson on what a temple was and focused on many aspects of the open house.

After church we met with Vanessa. And one of her first things she asked was when could she be baptized because she wanted to be able to enter the temple and receive the blessings from there. Once she realized that the vision we were helping her have was focused on receiving the covenants of the temple she immediately wanted to be baptized. We set a baptismal date and on the way back to our car did a happy dance. This NEVER happens. Well it never happens by our own works, only by God was this moment able to take place.

I am so happy to be a missionary here and to be able to teach people of the gospel. Which teaching helps me to learn more of how much God loves us. My testimony has grown so much and I cannot imagine a life without my mission. Particularly the principles I am learning from partaking in this labor of love.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I ask that you may keep Vanessa in your prayers that she may be able to be baptized October 10th.

I love you!

Sister Cummings

Thinking of Him

(Anziano Wilkinson)

We had a very successful week this week, which was really cool! Also

the language is coming along well for me; I have gotten to the point

where I can read out of the Book of Mormon in Italian and not have to

translate in my mind what is being said! I don't have all the vocab

and I'm slow, but to me it's a big step nonetheless! Also, my brother

came home yesterday from his mission and even though I don't get to be

there with him, I still got to live a little bit of the excitement

vicariously through videos and pictures (yes, for all you single

ladies out there, he's still handsome).

Other than being very busy this week there wasn't much that went on

besides getting to go to Lucca this week. That city is very close to

Pisa by train and is super popular for tourism (I'm really not sure

why though, it's just like all the others, with the possible exception

of it having a whole museum devoted to ancient torture techniques,

which is... Interesting... But anyway, I digress).

We ride trains a bunch in my area, so we get lots of time to talk to

people on those trains. Often times it's tourists that we talk to

though, seeing as this is Pisa after all. But regardless, we talk with

them (in English when we can, thank goodness) and somehow always end

up giving directions in the end; here in Pisa everyone is a part-time

director of clueless tourists, including us haha. On the bright side

though, tourist season is dying down and with it the summer heat!

I've been reading out of Jesus the Christ whenever I can find time and

it really has strengthened my testimony of the Savior and

understanding of the gravity of His sacrifice for us. The book is

great and the doctrines contained in it are magnificent! Most

noteworthy though, to me, is that it has helped me to keep my thoughts

more fully centered on Him and His work amid countless things that try

to distract me every day, namely, learning the language as quickly as

I can. I've noticed that as I remember to make Christ the center of

every aspect of my day, every aspect of missionary work is enhanced.

Including learning the language! So on that note, I invite everyone

back home to turn your thoughts to the Savior more often each day.

It's a simple thing to do and yet I promise it will enhance your

lives! The more we remember the Savior and desire to keep Him in our

hearts, the more we will feel his support and strengthens power!

Have a great week every one and don't forget to think of Christ!

-Anziano Wilkinson

I Am a Child of God

(Elder Cummings)

This is my last email from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  These nine weeks have gone by so fast.  It really blows my mind at how fast it has come and gone.  Elder LaRose, my companion, leaves tomorrow morning at 3:30, so I now have less than fifteen hours with him!  We have become great friends.  The MTC has been full of memories.  In 48 hours I will be in Fresno, California.  This is when the fun begins!

I have learned more about the California Fresno Mission this week.  For Hmong speakers there are two areas currently.  There is a chance that a third one could be opened if another Hmong Elder comes along in addition to me.  All the Hmong missionaries attend the same congregation for the entire duration of their mission, although they do switch apartments every so often.  Not a typical LDS missionary experience, but I am looking forward to it!

This week we had the opportunity to hear from another member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Dallin H. Oaks.  His address to us missionaries focused on the Plan of Salvation and its central purpose in the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Living Christ, a document produced by the church in 2000, bears testimony of Christ's life, stating "He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of the premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for sons and daughters of God in the life to come."  Everything we do in this life is intended to prepare us to RETURN to live with God.  All saving ordinances, all commandments, and all gospel principles are made with that purpose in mind.  As Elder Oaks said, "this life is the second act of a three act play."  Understanding our relationship with God is essential to our progression in the gospel.

And we are literal spirit children of an omnipotent God.

There is a children's hymn entitled "I am a Child of God" that teaches this truth.  Beginning in the first verse it states:

"I am a child of God,

And he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear."

We are children of God.  He did send us here with the intent that we can learn and progress.  When we lived with God before we did not have bodies of flesh and blood like our Father.  We existed as merely spirits.  God loved us enough to give us the opportunity to have physical bodies.  Under the direction of the Father, Jesus Christ, the literal Firstborn of the Father, was the creator of the earth.  "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3).  God sent us to this earthly home through physical families, families modeled after the one we came from and the one we hope to return to.  The family is essential to God's plan for our mortality and our eternity.  The bodies we posses in mortality are imperfect, capable of sickness and death, but through the Atonement of the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we can be raised in perfect bodies like our Father and now our Savior have, for "he (Christ) breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory" (Alma 22:14).

The song goes on:

"I am a child of God,

And so my needs are great;

Help me to understand his words

Before it grows too late."

We are children of God.  Our potential is limitless.  As C.S. Lewis once stated, "you have never met a mere mortal."  We have needs, spiritual needs, that need to be met if we are to live up to our divine potential.  These needs are met through the gospel of Jesus Christ, through "first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; thirs, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Articles of Faith 1:4) And that is not the end!  As the prophet Nephi wrote "and now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold I, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.  Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:19-20).  To have salvation we must do more than get on the path, more than standing behind the Savior.  We must continue on the path and follow His example.  Christ invites all to follow Him.  The invitation is extended to all who hear.  "Come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21).

In verse three we sing:

"I am a child of God.

Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will

I'll live with him once more."

Rich blessings are in store!  God desires so much for us and all that He asks is that we "learn to do his will."  God "knoweth all things" (2 Nephi 2:24) and He "loveth his children" (1 Nephi 11:17).  We are His children!  He wants only the best for us.  His will is His will because that is the only path for us to have the full measure of happiness, the happiness that comes from living with Him once more.  God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (Alma 45:16).  Why?  Because if He allowed sin He would be denying us the full measure of happiness that is available to us.  He loves us too much to allow that.  The gospel is a message that brings happiness.  It is a message that brings us again into the presence of our Father.  It is the path whereby we return.  It is the way for our families to be together forever.

Then there is the chorus:

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday."

The Savior does lead us, He does guide us, He does walk beside us, and when the times get hard He does carry us.  He is always there to help us.  He has taught us all that we must do through the example of His matchless life and He continues to instruct us through prayers and the personal revelation that accompanies the Holy Ghost.  I bear solemn testimony that through the power of Jesus Christ's Atonement we will live again with Him.  We will again live with our Father.  We will again live with our Brother and Savior.  Our mortality has a purpose.  It is the second act in a three act play.

With love,

Elder A. Jared Cummings

Miracles as Usual

(Sister Cummings)

So due to Canada actually using their Holidays as a day off for everyone, thus stores were closed yesterday for Labor day. (What is up with that? It is legitimately something that still surprises me every time. You mean people actually DO want to rest and not make as much money as is possible? This really is not the United States) Our mission president changed our P-Day to today. Which was great because yesterday we were able to see so many people! However we did run out of food and had to make do with Macaroni and Cheese, or as they call it here KD (Kraft Dinner.) Apparently Mac and Cheese refers to something else =)

This week has been great and full of miracles! However it started off on a rough note. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a pain in my stomach so bad that it hurt to even walk to the bathroom. It ended up last for three days. The last of which we attempted to see a doctor but were unable to be able to get in that day. Either way it was not fun and Thursday night we were trying to find members who would be able to do member splits with us as we are thankfully in a trio. But no one was answering, and those who did were not able to join us due to prescheduled events. We were looking at another day stuck in the apartment or another one spent at the doctors office. Not fun. We decided to say a pray, in which it was asked that God show us what must be done. Right after the prayer two members called back both saying that they were not able to join us but that they were going to pray very hard for me. We hung up still worried of what to do, and then it clicked. I decided that I was going to be healed. After all there were people praying for me, and in my own prayer that night I told God that I knew I was going to be healed by morning and that he help me to have the energy. It may sound a little brash demanding God for health but the spirit had already revealed to me that it was already a part of the Lords plan.

So then I went to sleep. In the early morning I woke up. The pain was still there but there was something different. It was as if someone was pulling off a heavy weight from my stomach and then suddenly all the pain was gone. I fell back asleep quickly and in the morning woke up completely healed and bouncing with energy. In fact I was the first one out of bed at 6:30.

I know that the Lord responded to my prayers. Just as we read in the scriptures I asked and I received. I knocked and it was opened unto me. I know and I testify of the power that the Lord has and his willingness to listen to our prayers. I know that he blesses me everyday with the opportunity to see his hand in all things just as he blesses everyone. God loves us and with that love miracles are made.

I love you all and I wish you one of the best weeks every. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love

Sister Cummings

La Spezia

(Anziano Wilknson)

This week I did my first companionship exchange and I got the chance to go to the beautiful city of La Spezia (literally translated, the spice). It is a port city, the biggest in Italy I believe, and also is well known for it's brightly colored buildings. It's very close to the famous Cinque Terre and it is also, for you British literature buffs out there, where Mary and Percy Shelly lived out the final part of their lives; the home still stands today actually.

Elder Johnson (who I was on exchanges with) and I had a great time, seeing as we are both extremely interested in the sciences. Needless to say we didn't stop talking the entire time we were together!

This week I was studying chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel, which contains the doctrines of the five lessons that we are to cover with those we teach. At the very beginning of the chapter it says, "The lessons in this chapter contain the essential doctrines, principles, and commandments that you are to study, believe, love, live, and teach." It is a simple and frankly obvious statement, but it nonetheless stuck out to me.

I realized as I thought on these words that the five actions it mentions, "study, believe, love, live, and teach" are each individually necessary for success in missionary work as well as for the spiritual progression of any individual. Without all five of them, effectiveness as a missionary and/or spiritual progression is impeded or perhaps even halted. Even the removal or neglect of just one of the five would result in limitations and loss of effectiveness in the other four. For example, one can't teach the doctrines of Christ very well if one doesn't also actively love, live, study, and believe the doctrines.

So often as we study the gospel we find this same principle of interconnectedness between the doctrines and principles we teach. It's so amazing that this is so. For me it stands as almost a small bit of undeniable proof that this is Christ's church, led by an actual prophet of God, because no mere man could create a religion with as much revealed truth as we have without making it contradict itself. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this is the true church of God and I know that He has a prophet here on the Earth who leads that church. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ it brings me so much joy and I know that it will continue to do so well into the eternities. I'm glad to have the opportunity to share this joy with the people of Italy and I hope to make a difference in their lives by giving as many people as I can the opportunity to experience it as well! I invite you all this week to share with someone you care about the joy you have received from having the gospel is your lives! The joy that comes from sharing joy is beyond compare!

Until next week,

Anziano Wilkinson

La Spezia

 Siena

Confessions

(Anziano Wilkinson)

Okay, so I have a confession. I have been holding back about writing home about the food here in Italy because I wanted to make sure I wasn't passing judgment prematurely. It still might be premature, but I think by now I am pretty safe in making this assumption. You know that stereotype about Italy having great food? Well, it's absolutely true! I have had so many good experiences already with meals here in Pisa and so far and it only seems to be getting better with each passing day. One a side note I had my first authentic gelato this week and it was magical to say the least. Let's just say the likelihood of me gaining weight on my mission skyrocketed when I discovered how good it is here!

Other than that I am beginning to settle into the life of a missionary; no longer am I having to ask questions every minute about what we are doing and why. And my comprehension of the language is improving noticeably with all the practice I am getting. Also time is back to it's 'normal' pace with days flying by at unreasonable speeds instead of the slow crawl that it was moving at for my first week. One could say that things are going pretty well for us here.

This week I was studying a bit about prayer and I came across a little instruction box in Preach my Gospel on how to pray. It is very simple, it says first "address our Heavenly Father", then "Express the feelings of your heart", then "close in the name of Jesus Christ". I was struck by the fact that it grouped what is usually separated into two distinct steps (giving thanks and asking for things) into one whole, namely, "express[ing] the feelings of your heart". I realized then that when we give thanks to our Heavenly Father, it should be from the very core of our hearts. Our thanks should be every part of the main course as our requests, not just side dishes thrown in as part of a balanced prayer.

Prayer is such a wonderful concept; it's literal communication with our Father in Heaven. He listens to, cherishes, and even responds to our prayers. I know He does, I have experienced these things in my life time and time again and always to a greater extent when I speak sincerely with Him and when I remember my relationship with Him as one of His children. I would like to invite all of you to keep this in mind as you express the desires of your heart to Him; remember each time you pray that you are praying to no less than your loving Father in Heaven. I promise He enjoys hearing your voice, especially in sincere and heartfelt prayer, no matter how unworthy you feel you are, because He loves you. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I hope you all have a great week! Go share your testimony with someone for me! It is fast Sunday after all!

-Anziano Wilkinson

A letter from a Missionary Mama (Cummings)

Dearest Sister Kayla and Elder Jared,

What a great stake conference we had this weekend!

Our new general authority is Senator Gordon Smith from Oregon.  He shared how when in office he always instructed his personnel that no matter what he was doing, or where he was, that if a call from Salt Lake came they needed to find him.  Well about 11 years ago, his assistant told him a heavily accented man called from Utah and she was going to hang up on him but because of his request to receive calls she put him on hold.  It was the newly ordained Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf.  Elder Uchtdorf then proceeded to tell Elder Smith that in Italy the church was restricted in owning property and in building buildings.  He ask Elder Smith to use his connections to look into this.  Elder Smith then made the appropriate calls including to the Italian Ambassador to the U.S. and in time got an appointment to go to see a government administer to discuss this issue.  Elder Smith called Elder Uchtdorf and told him about the invitation for the meeting in Rome to discuss these concerns; Elder Uchtdorf on hearing this update, asked to accompany him. 

At the meeting in Italy, the government administer brought along with her a professor of religion and together they listened to Elder Smith share how members of the church have been in Italy since the 1860's and even though there were tens of thousand of members currently, they were not given the same religious benefits as other religions.  He even stated and used the USA NATO  agreement with Italy that allowed for this equality.

The government administer turned to the professor of religion and asked what could he do to help the Gentleman.  The professor of religion then shared how he and his family had been to Utah a few months before and had toured a beautiful square with an even more beautiful building on it.  The government administrator looking at Elder Uchtdorf, asked if the church could build one of those in Rome.  Elder Uchtdorf smiling said, "We could start tomorrow."  

The religious professor went on to share how their tour guides were two beautiful girls from Italy.  He continued by expressing that if the LDS church in Italy could produce such wonderful, confident girls and people then they needed to do all they could to give the same powers and privileges to its members as it did other religions.

About 4 years later, in general conference, the Rome, Italy temple was announced. Elder Smith was in the general authority seats and in attendance at that session. When the announcement was made he looked up to then, President Uchtdorf, to find him staring right at him.   President Uchtdorf then gave him his beautiful smile and a thumbs up sign.  The Rome, Italy temple is currently being built in the shadow of the Vatican, in the same land and streets as the ancient apostle Paul walked and administered.

Elder Smith shared this story not because government officials met but because two simple missionaries bore witness and testimony just like D&C 1:23 says, " that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."

I am eternally grateful that you two are among the weak and simple whom declare strong testimony and help move the gospel and work forward.  I have felt the blessings in our home because of your efforts and dedication.  I love you so very much, keep passing it on!

Love mom

Repentance: An Open Invitation

(Elder Cummings)

This week has been a blast.  I have seen so many people I know which has actually been a little strange.  I saw both Elder Nick Alvarez from New Jersey and Elder Logan Maloy from Illinois just yesterday.  It is so nice to see people you love doing something that you know will make them happy.

We got our flight plans this last Friday.  All the Hmong Elders but me and one other leave the 8th before 4:00am.  Elder Ferguson and I leave the next day, he goes at 4:45 and I go at 6:00.  By the end of the day I will be in Fresno California where I will be for the next two years.  Wow.

The topic that has been on my mind this week is repentance.  As I have pondered the topic I have started to appreciate it a lot more.  As missionaries our purpose is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end" (Preach My Gospel, p. 1).  Understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ is essential to serving as a missionary and repentance is an essential part of that gospel.

I have come to the conclusion that repentance is more than just being cleansed of sins through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Repentance is an open invitation to rise up from our fallen state and develop celestial character.  In Mormon theology we believe that the purpose of our existence is to become like God.  We believe that God is the literal father of our souls.  Just as mortal fathers do not intend for their children to have it all worse off than they do, God does not want for us to have less than all He has.  In Matthew 7:11 we read "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  Family relationships in this life are patterned after those we have in Heaven with our Father and Mother who are in Heaven.

To live with them again we have to become like them.  We have to have the character of Christ, we have to put off the natural man and become a saint through the Atonement of Jesus Christ the Lord (Mosiah 3:19).  Christ showed us by his example how we must live to return to live with God, and there to inherit all our Father has.  Christ made the way possible for us to become better people. For "all we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" and in doing so we have turned away from God (Isaiah 53:5).  Because of this "it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish...except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made" (Alma 34:9).

Through the Atonement and through repentance we have to opportunity to be better each day, to become more like God each day.  Repentance is not just about cleaning up our actions, but it is "to change our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are not in harmony with [God's] will" (Preach My Gospel p. 62).

I invite you all to look at your lives and make the decision to repent, or in other words, to make the decision to know God better.  Repentance necessitates learning better who God is and our relationship with Him as His literal spirit children.  I know and bear testimony that true happiness is found only in living in accordance with God's will.  Repentance is the process by which our will is brought in line with God's.  Repentance is the process by which we become more godlike.  When we repent we change from living in disobedience to obedience.  Obedience is the only way to receive blessings (D&C 130:20-21).  Blessings, as define by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are "anything contributing to true happiness, well-being, or prosperity" (The Guide to the Scriptures; "Bless, Blessed, Blessing).  I invite you all to repent.  I invite you all to live happier lives.  I promise that you will.  The Lord's way is the only way to eternal joy.  If you do not yet know the Lord's way I invite you to learn.  It is the only way. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  He is our brother and our friend.  I leave this testimony with you in His sacred name, amen.

- Elder Jared Cummings

A Wonderful Scripture

(Sister Cummings)

So my time for emails is running really quite short but I wished to share something that I learned from my studies this morning.

So as a part of this plan which we are a part of, there is a moment of judgment. A judgement based on this what we are able to accomplish and act on in this world which we currently live in. One of the most imposing images that I can think of revolves around this one moment where we stand in front of God our Heavenly Father and suddenly become aware of absolutely every bad thing that we had ever done or even thought of. The crippling fear that would accompany that moment seems unbearable. Could you imagine looking God in the eyes and telling him that you couldn't come and live with him because you were so imperfect? Frightening.

Except for one fact.

At this moment we will not be alone.

Jesus Christ sometimes refers to himself as "the advocate" or in French "avocat" which means Lawyer. A wonderful moment is described in Doctrine and Covenants 45:3-5

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

 4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

 5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

In a moment of fear Jesus our savior will step in and testify of our willingness to do the will of the Lord. And through our acts on the earth we had chosen to follow Christ. Therefore being worthy to use his sufferings or atonement to become pure once more.

This scripture drives so much of my work ethic as a missionary. This is one of the reasons why I am here, so that those around me, my brothers and sisters, may know that if they have Faith, repent, are baptized by someone holding the authority of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then continue to live in righteousness, in the last days they will have peace. They will be found worthy of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and then worthy to live with our Father in Heaven.

I know that these things are true, it is testified to me day in and day out that we have a heavenly father who loves us dearly and wishes that we may come and live with him once more. It is for this fact that he sent his only begotten son to the earth to suffer for our sins.

I love you and I pray for you everyday. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Last Post

(Elder Slade)

Dear friends and family:

Yesterday was transfer readouts! I, unsurprisingly, am transferring. More surprising is the fact that Elder Storm is leaving Miami as well, so our area is getting whitewashed. Two new missionaries who don't know the area will be coming in to replace us.

I'm not sure what to write in this email. Last Saturday, I had my departing interview with President Richardson. I gave my last talk on my mission on Sunday, and I'm flying home on Thursday morning, and I'll see you all for the first time at about noon over in Colorado.

It's been a good two years.

Thanks,

Elder Slade

P.S. For those of you who don't have my personal email address, you will be able to get in contact with me at brandonyoyoslade@gmail.com. I don't know what my phone number will be yet. I used to have a facebook page, but I deleted it before I left on my mission, so I'll probably go back and recreate it, starting from scratch, so that it's easier for me to keep in touch with all of you.